Follow Spain Immigration and Life in Spain: On January 4, Beijing time, the Spanish Football Association officially announced on Twitter that a friendly match will be held on March 5 this year at the Calderón Stadium in Spain against the Italian national team, marking the fifth encounter in three years.
Previously, Italian coach Prandelli had hoped to cancel this match, believing that playing against the same team five times in three years was unnecessary, but the Spanish Football Association confirmed the time and location of the match on Twitter.
Historically, Italy and Spain have faced each other 28 times, with Italy winning 8, drawing 11, and losing 9. Since Spain won the European Championship in 2008, Italy has not defeated Spain in major competitions. In the quarter-finals of the 2008 European Championship, the teams drew after 120 minutes, and Italy lost in the penalty shootout; four years later in the European Championship, Italy drew 1-1 with Spain in the group stage but suffered a 0-4 defeat in the final. In last year's Confederations Cup, the two teams met in the semi-finals, ending 0-0 after 120 minutes, but Bonucci's missed penalty led to Italy's defeat against Spain. In a friendly match in 2011, Italy had previously defeated Spain 2-1.
In the World Cup group draw held at the end of last year, Italy was placed in the same group as Uruguay, England, and Costa Rica, while Spain's group stage opponents are Chile, Australia, and the Netherlands.
